"I guess that's why they call it the Blues" sang Watford's most famous fan but ahead of Everton's trip to Vicarage Road, the ECHO caught up with Hornets supporter Mike Parkin @RookeryMike , co-presenter of the Watford FC podcast 'From the Rookery End'.

There's been a lot of water under the bridge since the teams last met on the opening day of the campaign, how would you assess Watford's first season back in the Premier League so far?

The important thing to remember is that our goal for the season was simple; to survive. It looks like we're going to achieve that as well as heading to Wembley for an FA Cup Semi Final.

From that point of view it would be daft to suggest that the season has been anything other than a success. That said, we achieved relative safety quite quickly and that lead many supporters to realign their expectations, expectations that the Hornets haven't really lived up to since the turn of the year.

Watford have lost their previous four games and scoring goals has become something of an issue. There is a feeling that players are being used in positions that don't make best use of their talent and there is a degree of frustration among a section of the support.

In the long term there can be no denying that this season's objective has been comfortably met. The focus is now starting to turn on how we progress form here.

Just how excited are Watford fans about the FA Cup now and is there a feeling you can win it?

If as a football supporter you aren't excited about an FA Cup semi-final, than I'd humbly suggest you look for something else to do with your time.

It had been a pretty average run until the quarter-final at Arsenal, but that win will live long in the memory and gave us all the belief that all of a sudden there was an opportunity to achieve something really special this season.

Most football supporters are pessimistic by nature, so I don't think you'll get too many Hornets fans openly admitting to expecting to see Watford's name etched onto the cup, but by the same token you'll probably struggle to find someone who hasn't allowed themselves to imagine Troy Deeney lifting the trophy.

Quique Sanchez Flores is tactically pretty adept and there is some real talent in the squad, so yes, there is certainly a feeling we *can* win it - I'd certainly back us to give Palace and any potential final opponent a run for their money - especially in a one-off game.

Is there an appetite for a repeat of the 1984 final, a chance to scratch a 32- year itch?

Oh good grief, yes. Watford supporters are generally a pretty relaxed bunch, but there are two people they will never forgive.

One is Roger Milford, who wrongly sent off Wilf Rostron thus ensuring that the much loved club captain missed the 1984 Cup final and the second is Andy Gray, for reasons that should be pretty obvious to your readers.

Everton players celebrate Andy Gray's goal in the 1984 FA Cup final

His "challenge" on Steve Sherwood in the '84 Final was as obvious a foul as is possible and it still rankles. Most Watford supporters wanted Palace in the semi-final as it provided a chance for revenge for a recent Play-off final loss, followed by Everton in the Final.

The opportunity to kill two birds with one FA Cup shaped stone is a mouthwatering prospect.

As an outsider, how do you view the way things have panned out for Everton, do you think they should be doing better?

Everton seem to be locked in an eternal quest for consistency. They seem to enjoy decent performances and patches of form every season, without ever seeming to be able to put a meaningful run together.

The quotes attributed to Leighton Baines indicate that there may be some serious difficulties and underlying issues, but from an outsiders point of view it is difficult to see why Everton's points tally is closer to Watford's than West Ham's.

A Watford win will take the Hornets above Everton in the league - I don't think anyone would have expected that to be the case, so I guess that answers your question.

If it was a school report you'd be looking at a C minus and a "see me after class".

Apart from the obvious choice of Romelu Lukaku, are the any other Everton players you're wary of?

Anyone who is out of form. Players who haven't scored for decades or who have been on a poor run often seem to spring into life against us, so if you've got anyone that needs a bit of a boost, this is the game for them!

Ross Barkely showed what he can do in the opening fixture against us, so we'll be wary of him. Watford have looked a bit wobbly against decent set-pieces too, so Leighton Baines will be a threat, too.

Tom Cleverley is a former Watford player

Watford supporters have fond memories of Tom Cleverley after a successful loan spell, so some Hornets fans will be keen to see how he's progressed in the intervening years.

Saturday's game is between two sides seemingly struggling for form, how do you see it going and could the result have much of an impact ahead of a potential FA Cup final showdown?

Last time out Watford were brushed aside by Arsenal and everyone connected with the club will want to see a reaction.

They contributed very little at the Emirates and that was coming off the back of an equally limp display at home to Stoke, so the supporters will want to see a big improvement.

The 40 points mark is probably irrelevant but it's a big psychological barrier, and Vicarage Road will be a happier place once we're there.

Watford games have been notoriously difficult to predict and apart from a few anomalies, they have given most teams a decent test.

That's the minimum expected from this fixture and I'm going to predict a narrow Watford win.

I can't seeing it having much of an impact on any meeting in the FA Cup - we'll win that, too. This one's for you Wilf!